Swimming apparatus.



No. 826,145. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

' Z. T. 00X.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IA]. 20,1908.

/ III/I14 "III [III I II WITNESSES: I H

A TTORNE Y5- .umrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1'7, 1906;

Application filed January 20, 1906, Serial No. 297.046.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ZACHARY TAYLOR Cox,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful-Swimming Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to swimming apparatus, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effici .1111; device of this character particularly designed for attachment to the leg or ankle of a person to assist the wearer in swimming, treading water, and performing otheraquatic feats. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting-band having a flexible web secured thereto and adapted to expand and contract as the legs of the swimmer are forced forward and drawn rearwardly in the act of swimming.

Afurther' object is to provide the supporting-baiid with a pneumatic pad or cushion to prevent chafing or otherwise abradjng the skin.

A still further object is to generally improve this class of devices, so as to add to their utility and durability aswell as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved swimming apparatus, showing the web expanded and in dotted said band-being formed of leather, canvas, or

lines, the latter contracted or collapsed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a similar view.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawin s.

The improved devices consist of a supporting-band adapted to encircle the leg or ankle of the wearer and indicated as a whole at 5,

- other suitable material and constructed of a plurality of layers or sections 6, 7, and 8,

sewed or otherwise secured together at their upper ends, as indicated at 9. The adjacent vertical edges 10 and 11 of the band 5 are yieldably connected by a thin strip of rubber or other flexible material 12, which engages the lnterior and exterior walls of said band, as shown, while riveted or otherwise secured to the exterior Walls of the band are straps 13 for engagement with suitable buckles 14.

- Interposed betweenthe layers 6 and 7 and secured to the band 5, as by rivets 15, are a plurality of spaced flexible ribs 16, the free ends of which are interposed between the interior and exterior walls of a web or covering 17, preferably formed of thin sheet-rubber, as

. shown, there being a cord or other flexible medium 18seated-in the terminal pocket 19 of the web, and alternately engaging the inner and outer faces of the ribs 16 to assist in reinforcing the edge of the web when the latter is expanded.

To prevent the band 5 from slipping forward on the leg of the wearer, a stra 20 is secured to one end of said band, w 'le its free end passes beneath the foot and extends upwardly through a pocket 21 for engagement with a buckle 22, secured to the adjacent exterior wall of said band.

Engaging the interior walls of the band 5 is a pneumatic pad or cushion 23, adapted to bear against the leg of the wearer so as to revent chafing or otherwise abradin the s 'n, said pad being inflated bya suitab evalve 24,

extending through the several sections of the band and provided with a cap or closure 25, there being a strip of felt or other yieldable material 26 interposed between the pad and the adjacent layer 8 to form a smooth bearin surface for said pad.

n applying the device the straps 13 are released and the foot inserted through the band 5, the thin connecting-strip of rubber permitting the band to yield or ex and sufliciently to allow the passa e of the oot. The band is then adjusted ongitudinally on the lo and the strap 20 passed beneath the foot an secured by. the buckle 22, after which the straps 13 are adjusted and fastened by the buckles 14. When the device is thus applied, a rearward movement of the legs in the act of swimming will collapse the web or covering and cause the latter to offer but slight resistance to the water; but u on the forward stroke the. web will expan and present a relatively large bearing-surface for contact with the water, thereby materially adding to the effectiveness of the stroke and causing increased speed. It is obvious that the device may be used with e ually good results.

in treading water and, if esired, may be attached to the wrist or arm.

By having the supporting-band formed of.

If desired, the supporting-band and foot-- engaging strap may be constructed of metal, such as aluminium, in which case they Wlll be formed in two or more sections hinged together to ermit the same to be conveniently positioned on the foot.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 'is 1. In a device of the class described, a supportin member, a plurality of flexible ribs carrie by the member, a'web covering said ribs, and a interior wal of the supporting .mem er.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting member, a rubber band covering the mterior and'exterior walls of the supportin' member and connecting the adjacent ends 0 the latter, ribs secured to the supporting member, a web covering the free end of the ribs, and attachin means for said member.

3. In a device o the class described, a su porting member, a'rubber band covering t e interior and exterior walls of the supportin member and connecting the adjacent ends 0 the latter, flexibl'e'ribs secured to said member, a web covering the free end of the ribs, an auxiliary fastenin means for the supporting member, and a oot-en'gaging strap carried b said supporting member.

4. 1 1 1 a device of the class described, a supporting member formed of a plurality of superposed sections, ribs interposed between adjacent sections and having their free ends extended beyond said member, a web covering the free ends of the ribs, a pneumatic cushion engaging the interior walls of the Ipneumatic cushionenga ing the.-

and attaching means for said member.

5. In a device of the class described, a supporting member formed of a plurality of superpcsed sections, ribs interposed between adjacent sections and having their free ends extended beyond the member, a pneumatic cushion engagin the interior walls of the supportin mem er, a web covering the free ends of t e ribs, a foot-engaging strap secured to one wall of the supporting member and having its free end extendin throu h a pocket in the opposite wall, an attac g means for the sup ortin' member.

6. In a device 0 the c ass described, a supporting-band formed of a plurality of superposed sections, ribs interposed between adj acent sections and having their free ends extended beyond the member, a web covering the free ends of the ribs, a neumatic cushion engaging the. interior wall of the band, a strip of yieldable material interposed between the padand the interior wall of the band, a foot-engaging strap carried by the band, and attaching means for said band.

7 In a device of the class described, a supporting-band formed of a plurality of superposed sections having their adjacent ends connected by a strip of yieldable material, ribs interposed between adjacent sections and having their free ends extended beyond the member, a web covering the free ends of the ribs and extending throughout the length of said ribs on each side thereof, a fiexiblemedium carried by the web and alternately engaging the opposite faces of the ribs, a footengagmg strap carried by the band, a pneumatic cushion engagin the interior walls of the band an inflation-Va ve extending through the walls of the several sections an communicatin with the cushion, and attaching means or said band.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I- have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ZAOHARY TAYLOR COX.

Witnesses:

JAMES SAMUEL CASTLETON,

CHRISTIAN L. SoHErrLEn. 

